Doug Dawson

Doug P. Dawson

Doug focuses his practice on workers’ compensation defense, where he applies his

backgrounds in education and business. He believes in getting it right, not just getting it

done.

He attended law school while working full-time in the corporate world. After graduating near

the top of his class, he began his own practice doing estate planning in Kentucky and

Indiana before joining a firm focused on workers’ compensation, where he was mentored by

a former Administrative Law Judge and a member of the Kentucky Workers’ Compensation

Hall of Fame.

After helping open a new office for another insurance defense firm, he expanded into civil

practice in both Kentucky and Indiana. While defending personal injury, motor vehicle

accident, and premises liability cases in both state and federal courts, he helped his clients

reach favorable settlements, win summary judgment, and even obtain a directed verdict at

trial. Throughout that process, he realized how much he missed workers’ compensation. He

joined Sewell & Neal in 2022 to focus, once again, on workers’ compensation defense.

Doug enjoys public speaking and training claims professionals on workers’ compensation

laws. He is a certified instructor with the Kentucky Department of Insurance Continuing

Education Program and has been a recipient of the KBA Continuing Legal Education Award.

Doug originally moved to Louisville for graduate school in music, met his wonderful wife

Allison, changed careers, and made Louisville home. Over the last several years, Doug has

served in several leadership roles with Beargrass Christian Church, served on the Board of

Eastern Area Community Ministries, coordinated Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University

courses, and served as the official scorekeeper of the Kentucky State Little League

Tournament. He is also a trombonist and enjoys the occasional gig with professional

orchestra musicians. When he is not practicing law or serving in one of those roles, Doug

can usually be found at a field or court of some kind with one of his three kids, either

coaching or broadcasting play-by-play.

Practice Areas: Workers’ Compensation Defense

Admissions:

Kentucky Bar, 2010

Indiana Bar, 2011

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, 2013

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, 2016

U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky 2016

Education:

College of Wooster, B.A. and B.Mus.Ed. double major with honors, 1996

University of Louisville, J.D., magna cum laude, 2010

Memberships:

Kentucky Bar Association, Workers’ Compensation Section

Indiana Workers’ Compensation Institute